Monday, 6 October 2008
Avoiding by-elections like the plague
One of the benefits of an unwritten constitution is that you never have to rip it up. Take this, for example:
European Commissioners are forbidden under all circumstances from sitting as members of their respective national legislatures.
Article 1.1.1 of the European Commission's own 'code of conduct', clearly states that "commissioners may not hold any public office of whatever kind". Pretty unambiguous stuff. Whilst it is likely that [Baroness] Ashton will formally designate herself as being on "leave of absence" from the House of Lords in an effort to get around this problem, such a mechanism does not disqualify her from membership of the body and is therefore insufficient to satisfy the Commission's rules.
No mechanism existing through which she is able to resign her membership of the House of Lords and subsequent holding of public office, I cannot see how Baroness Ashton is legally permitted to assume office as a Commissioner.
Neither can I, but can anyone doubt that some way will be found of bending the rules to put the PM's preferred candidate in place? Yes, again and again over the last 18 months Gordon Brown has proven himself to have all the native cunning and tactical acumen of a plateful of shit, but surely - surely - someone thought of this beforehand? Or are they just going to stick their fingers in their ears and whistle the Red Flag till people stop asking inconvenient questions?
The benefit of putting a member of the Lords into the job, of course, is that it averts the potentially damaging by-election that would result if, say, Geoff "Buff" Hoon were sent in Mandy's place. So they will find some mechanism; if none exists, they will prestigitate one of thin air. Just you watch.
A cynical explanation, you say? Doing a disservice to a talented rising star of national politics, am I? OK, then, consider this, which has attracted remarkably little airplay from UK bloggers today:
Last summer, [Jack] McConnell resigned as Scottish Labour leader on the understanding he would become the new High Commissioner to Malawi, either at the end of this year or at the start of 2009. [...]
He has now been told by Gordon Brown that this will not happen, at least not before 2011. Instead Mr McConnell has been given a part-time, unpaid role as a "special representative" on conflict resolution.
Opposition parties said it was a desperate move by Mr Brown to avoid a by-election in Mr McConnell's Motherwell and Wishaw constituency. He had expected to resign his seat next spring, triggering a by-election, but that will not happen now.
The former First Minister insisted privately that he had made sure he was being given a "real job" before he accepted it and said he intended to make a real difference. But Labour insiders claimed Mr McConnell had been "stitched up" by the Prime Minister and had been given a "non job" simply to make sure there was no by-election.
"Special representative on conflict resolution"? Jack Mcfucking Connell? What kind of butterballs do they take us for? The only real "conflict" oor Jack's ever experienced was the long-running battle between his straining zipper and his engorged cock - and he resolved that, you may recall, by banging his press officer and then - so it is alleged - sending a begging letter round fellow Labour MPs when party funds ran short, asking them to stump up for part of her wages to keep her from getting the chop, and thereby saving him a taxi fare every time he wanted his balls drained. High Commissioner to Malawi? Uganda would have been more appropriate.
Whatever. If the post is unpaid, Jack can knock himself out, so far as I am concerned. (Though I'll be interested to see how many airmiles he clocks up on the public purse in his new role.) But am I the only one who feels a little disquiet, not to mention contempt, at the lengths to which our unelected Prime Minister will go to avoid putting himself, his party's candidates or his policies to the public vote?
Labels: Euroweenies, Nu Lab
Comments:
<< Home
jesus I totally missed this story. I feel sorry for the poor bastard. Always had a soft spot for Jack - Blair cost him the election, now he's been totally shafted by Brown.
Instead of living it up like a prince if beautiful Africa, he's stuck for 3 more years in fucking Motherwell.
If I were a crueller man, I'd be laughing my fucking arse off
Instead of living it up like a prince if beautiful Africa, he's stuck for 3 more years in fucking Motherwell.
If I were a crueller man, I'd be laughing my fucking arse off
We , the people of Motherwell and Wishaw , feel no such pity . Neither do we feel much like laughing .
Another 3 years represented by that useless cunt !
At least he's better than his old pal Frank "I Hate the Prods" Roy M.P., a staunch bulwark in Jack's war on "Scotland's Secret Shame".
What joy it is to live in this Worker's Paradise , where all thoughts must be progressive and all must bow before The Party's mighty political machine .
Another 3 years represented by that useless cunt !
At least he's better than his old pal Frank "I Hate the Prods" Roy M.P., a staunch bulwark in Jack's war on "Scotland's Secret Shame".
What joy it is to live in this Worker's Paradise , where all thoughts must be progressive and all must bow before The Party's mighty political machine .
Careful Ben and Mr Anonymous:
I am afraid you are both wrong. Mr McConnell does not merely want to remain MP for Motherwell and Wishaw, he is much loved by his constituents.
He said so himself. In the Scotsman, no less. This is the relevant quote. I expect you both to learn it by heart.
Mr McConnell went on: "I have received considerable representations from people in Motherwell and Wishaw asking me to stay on and do the job they elected me to do, and I am pleased that they will be reassured that the [eh?] will now happen.".
See?
I am afraid you are both wrong. Mr McConnell does not merely want to remain MP for Motherwell and Wishaw, he is much loved by his constituents.
He said so himself. In the Scotsman, no less. This is the relevant quote. I expect you both to learn it by heart.
Mr McConnell went on: "I have received considerable representations from people in Motherwell and Wishaw asking me to stay on and do the job they elected me to do, and I am pleased that they will be reassured that the [eh?] will now happen.".
See?
Hate to go green ink on you, but when you wrote 'prestigitate' did you mean 'prestidigitate'?
This may not be a word officially either but it is at least a more plausible one.
Cuntishly Pedantically Yours,
D.
BTW If we want by-elections, my preferred solution would be to, er, 'de-select' permanently some Labour MP's and then let democracy take its' course.
This may not be a word officially either but it is at least a more plausible one.
Cuntishly Pedantically Yours,
D.
BTW If we want by-elections, my preferred solution would be to, er, 'de-select' permanently some Labour MP's and then let democracy take its' course.
Pardon me Mr Eugenics, but you do realise that in this blog, you look like you're saying the EU does something better than Westminster? Like, have proper written-down rules?
McConnell must be a real twat though. How many times can he take being made to look an idiot by Brown?
McConnell must be a real twat though. How many times can he take being made to look an idiot by Brown?
Dave H: Maybe I misspoke. Still, when I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less.
Ross: Better than "Mr Eugenicide", which was 18 Doughty St's preferred pronunciation. That was a different kind of blog altogether.
Ross: Better than "Mr Eugenicide", which was 18 Doughty St's preferred pronunciation. That was a different kind of blog altogether.
One could be forgiven, having read a few of your posts (nail guns, DC-3s) that perhaps Mr Eugenicide was just the next step? In combination with Mr Eugenics, of course. No point killing if you can't replace 'em with something you prefer?
Post a Comment
<< Home
